Meet the consultant behind a talk show uplifting other go-getters

Beyond Representation is an exciting event championing women of colour who are breaking new ground in Irish media, arts, and business.

Hosted by broadcasters Ola Majekodunmi and Zainab Boladale today in Dublin's Huckletree, the sold-out affair aims to act as a platform, to highlight and connect for women of colour across various industries.

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Ahead of the event, we caught up with Abidemi Taiwo, the go-getting host of On The Couch With Abi, a talk show focusing on people who have forged their own path, much like Abi herself.

You're a recruitment consultant by day, but tell us about your other life on your talk show! What is it about?

My media life is a different ball game compared to my day job. Both have challenges, but I have to admit, I enjoy the challenges that #OnTheCouchWithAbi brings. I learn so much from the talk show, from organising an interview, such as finding the venues, finding and inviting the guests, hearing the stories from our guests, the filming process, editing the film...The list is long and after all is done, watching back the final product, I just do not know how to describe that feeling.

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#OnTheCouchWithAbi was created in July 2016, and focuses on individuals who are paving their own paths in various spheres and challenging the status quo. The show features notable individuals who are either budding or established in their respective fields. A part of the show that is crucial, is the awareness of African stories and how they integrate with the Irish community. #OnTheCouchWithAbi celebrates individuals whilst having stimulating conversations about societal issues and general life beliefs.

How did the talk show come about and why?

It all began in my room with me and my faithful laptop. I would attend social events, church programs, parties, weddings, etc and when I got home, I would record and document my thoughts and opinions using the built-in webcam on my laptop. Because I was shy and not confident in myself, my videos had an imaginary audience. No one had seen the videos up until months later when a friend of mine was going through the files in my laptop and came across the recordings.

He encouraged me to post the videos and to start something with these videos and told me there is a great potential in these videos, we all need someone like him. A year later in 2012, I began presenting monthly announcements via pre-recorded videos for the local church I was attending. I was 22 years old and I knew that I would love to be in front of the camera for a living. How it was going to happen? I had no clue! And so the journey began.

In 2014, after I graduated from university, I was determined to take my presenting career to the next level. I moved to London with the hope of getting a job at the African TV station, Ben Television. That did not work out - there is a long story - however, I did manage to get some freelance work from them during my time in London, thanks to Mr. Victor.

When I moved back home to Dublin in late 2015, I spent some time searching for a way to get into the media world in Ireland. Unfortunately, I was left disappointed as I couldn't find any presenting/media opportunities or platforms. I felt frustrated as I was so eager to get back in front of the camera. However, my frustrations turned into inspirations that pushed me to create a platform for myself, of which by God's grace continues to grow.

Who are your audience and what do you hope to highlight on the show?

The show's audience is everyone with an ear willing to listen and be inspired, individuals who are searching for inspiration. In a nutshell, if you are looking to start your journey and want to hear how others started, or are already on your journey and are looking for a boost by hearing about how some else managed to overcome obstacles or those that love a good story.

As a child, when I saw people in the society that were doing and making something out of themselves, I wished I had the opportunity to ask them questions about their journey. It is so easy to see a successful individual today and celebrate their success. As a person, I am always intrigued and curious as to how the person acquired that success and the challenges they faced on their journey and even how they have maintained their position in society.

My point is, most people would like to hear a story that resonates with them because their narrative motivates us and helps us to believe in ourselves. My hopes and dreams are for the audience to be impacted positively by hearing the stories directly from the guests of the show. They would also be informed and perhaps learn something and see the viewpoint of the African diaspora.

What are some of the difficulties you face getting the show noticed?

My biggest challenge is raising awareness of the show to people that are not my friends, family, co-workers or even acquaintances. To my knowledge, there are no platforms in Ireland that offer assistance or help to promote independent Irish-based content. Another challenge, as we all know, is nothing in life is free, and because I fund the show myself, the budget for the show is very limited. We do not have a marketing team/ promoter to push the show out further to a bigger audience. In fact, the list of things we lack is extremely long.

However, because of the stories that I have heard while interviewing our guests, by God’s grace, I say "challenge accepted". I am learning to embrace even the frustrating times. I will work hard and invest greatly in the show, like my time and my finances, until the show’s numbers are satisfactory. I have learnt in life that perseverance and being resilient is key. I just have to keep putting the work in and know that at the right time, the show will eventually get national recognition and be self-financing.

What does an event like Beyond Representation do to help?

By helping promote and raise awareness of the efforts of #OnTheCouchWithAbi in any way it can and where possible, and not just only for #OnTheCouchWithAbi but for every entity they can assist.

An event like Beyond Representation encourages us to be proud of our origins and celebrate ourselves.

I believe this is what this event is about. I think we lack proper representation of African people in the Irish mainstream media. Instead of complaining it’s not being done, the organizers took it upon themselves to create this platform Celebrating all African women in Ireland. I am very much honoured to be a part of the Beyond Representation event.

Meet the consultant behind a talk show uplifting other go-getters

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